Chapter 37: Granslip Port

Chapter 37: Granslip Port

When Ester Ivory arrived in port, Captain Kolto took over many of the tasks that Kalen had planned to do himself. He was a little embarrassed, but more than that, he was relieved. The sight of the main harbor city of Circon growing and growing on the horizon had left him speechless at first, and even as they disembarked and a pair of sailors helped Yarda into the back of a wagon that had been brought for her comfort, he was still as stunned as if hed just taken a blow.

He had been told all his life how large continent cities were. But being told and seeing it for yourself were two different things. Every soul in Baitown would not outnumber just those people Kalen could see working around the docks. There were twenty ships as large as Ester Ivory in port, and countless smaller vessels.

It was mid autumn, and though Kalen had heard a couple of sailors mention rumors of a poor harvest in the country famous for its agriculture, he was sure they must be wrong. Save for the ocean at his back, there was nowhere he could turn without seeing mountainous piles of grain sacks being loaded onto ships or ported into warehouses.

Nice weather for this time of year, Kolto told Kalen, squinting up at the clear sky and the warm afternoon sun. Circons cold for my taste in the winter, though I suppose youll be fine coming from Hemarland.

Hopefully I wont still be here, Kalen said. Im sure my master will come before the month is out.

She probably doesnt even know shes my master yet, he thought desperately. He hadnt expected to see Arlade standing before him the second they docked. But hed wanted to. The idea of waiting for her was more intimidating than ever now that hed seen where hed have to wait.

Ill get lost for sure. Why have they shoved so many buildings together like this? Its ridiculous. They should have turned it into a hundred different villages instead. And where are all the trees? They must have chopped every one of them down to build all of this. A land without trees is unnatural.

He knew he was being absurd, but he held onto his opinions all the way through the city to the inn the captain had selected for them on the recommendation of the harbormaster.

Ill be paying for us both, Yarda said firmly when Kalen started fishing around in the luggage for his money.

But you already covered the price of the voyage, Kalen protested.

Id have paid that myself, anyway, wouldnt I? she said, the wagon rocking as she heaved herself out of it and stood looking up at the sign swinging over the inn door. My trip was already planned, and you have only been good company along the way.

The captain even negotiated the nights price for them, depriving Kalen of his chance to use the training Lander had inflicted on him before he left home. So Kalen practically ran to haul up all their belongings to the small but clean room at the top of the narrow stairs, wanting to do the last useful thing he could find for himself.

Yarda decided to wash up and rest soon after they arrived, and Kalen met the captain back downstairs. Ill see you before we sail again, the man promised.

You dont have to come all the way here, Kalen replied. I know you must be busy. And I can make my way to the docks to see Ester Ivory off.

Kolto smiled at him. Weve enjoyed having you aboard. Come by any time while were still here and talk to a crewman if you need me. Id like to know if you have word from your master, as well. It would set my mind at ease.

Thank you. Ill let you know if shes written anything.

Are you sure you dont want to send your magic jars back home through the churchmail? the captain asked. Kalen had left the recording jars hed made for his family and Yardas on board the ship. Im happy to take them to Hemarland myself. But itll be a nearly a year. Were straight home for the winter after this, with no stops on the way.

I know, said Kalen. But I have the letters to mail, and I can always record another jar and send it faster if I want. Its nice to be sure those two will make it, even if they make it late. Yarda recorded so much on hers.

The captain nodded. It seems wise to me, too, when you put it that way. He stood from his chair by the inns hearth, and stretched. You remember the name of the doctor? Ah, I shouldnt ask. You take good care of your cousin, I know.

Doctor Meluda of Rye Street, in the house painted yellow, said Kalen. Hed helped one of Koltos sailors out a few years ago. I remember.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

If you have trouble finding him

Ill find him, Kalen said firmly.

The captain held out his hand and Kalen shook it. Aye, young man, he said. Ill leave you to it, then.

#

All the way to the Church of Yoat, Kalen was absolutely convinced that he would be beaten and robbed at any moment.

This is all Landers fault, he thought, blushing and nodding an apology to a girl hed almost run into in his haste to move past a dark alley. Even Veern and Terth could rob you, Kalen. Youll be so distracted singing your magic spells while you walk that everyone will know youre an easy mark, Kalen.

As if Im going to start singing cantrips in the middle of a street, he muttered.

Hed already decided his favorite type of spell was unusable until he knew just how much attention cantrips might garner. Zevnie had been able to feel him casting For germinating grain when she was close enough. Arlade had been on the beach that day, and she hadnt; so it probably wasnt something that could be detected over long distances, but how was he to know how near he was to another practitioner in a city this packed with people?

He only got lost twice on his way to his destination, and both times, he asked women his mothers age to point him in the right direction. Such a devout boy! one of them said.

Kalen didnt see any reason to correct her.

In Circon, Yoat and Clywing had their churches side by side. The red stone buildings were low but massive, and they curved around a central courtyard. At the back of the complex, there was an Office of the Post, which was as big as the entire Church of Yoat on Hemarland.

Kalen had to keep telling himself not to gawk at every little thing or lose himself in the citys pace as he followed a bald man wearing long brown robes back. He tried to look like he knew what he was doing as he entered the office. There were two men sitting at stools behind a tall counter, with iron bars separating them from a group of people who were waiting their turns to send or receive their post. Both men wore flat fabric caps with a silver charm pinned to the frontone for Yoat and one for Clywing. Behind them were shelves filled with books and scrolls, cabinets, and a huge iron box covered in magepaint that Kalen guessed was some kind of protective storage chest.

Feeling a little nervous at the busyness and seriousness of this place, he watched the other patrons carefully. Save for a man wearing a bloody butchers apron, most of the people were well dressed compared to those hed passed on the street. Kalen glanced down at himself. His summer tunic and trousers were sturdy, but theyd seen a lot of use given his refusal to open up the two packages of newly made clothing from home.

Well its fine, isnt it? At least I dont look like Ive been gutting sheep all day.

Kalen listened to the conversations everyone ahead of him had with the men at the counter. They were all sending or receiving letters and packages. One fellow in velvet pants asked about portaling a bottle of wine somewhere, and the man working behind the counter rolled his eyes and named a price that made Kalens mouth go dry. If he took a third of everything his parents had given him and handed it over, he could apparently have a bottle of wine sent by portal to the Republic of Laen.

The man in the velvet pants looked aghast and staggered off with his bottle still clutched under his arm.

But it didnt feel good.

No, it is. It really is. This isnt the worst outcome at all.

A letter had safely crossed to the opposite sea. It was on its way to Makeeran. It would reach Zevnies family, then Zevnie, then Arlade. Arlade would come. She might come just to get her crystal skull apprenticeship token back, but shed come. And shed help Yarda.

Shed helped Kalens parents for free. She was odd, but she wasnt an uncompassionate person.

How does Zevnies family get a message to her?

Shed said they could do it more easily than Kalen. What did that mean? Why hadnt he asked? Was it some magical device? Would it happen at once when the letter arrived or would it take more time?

And this was a good place for Kalen to stay, wasnt it? It sounded like it hadnt changed much since Lander was here before. Circon was so close to Swait, but they still had church-protected portalists. Four of them. It wasnt a lot, but it was something.

Their funds would hold out fine, too. The inn wasnt expensive. They could stay for months if they had to.

But it sounds like we might have to.

Yarda, he whispered when he entered their room some time later. Are you awake?

She was lying on the too-small bed with a spare skirt folded over her eyes as a shade. Mmm, she said. So many noisy people outside, arent there? Goodness, a real city is a fine thing to see.

Kalen sighed. Of course shed have a positive view on being kept from her nap by sounds from the street.

If you dont mind talking, I wanted to ask you something, he said, sitting down in the rooms one hard chair. When you were planning this trip, before you knew Id be coming along with you, what were you going to do when you reached Granslip? Were you going to head straight across Circon as soon as you arrived? Or maybe down to Swait and over?

That second had to be it. It was the fastest way. Or it had beenmaybe things were different now.

Bad news about your letter? said Yarda, not lifting the cloth over her eyes.

Not really. Its just taking longer to reach the people it needs to reach than I hoped. It will be at least a couple of months before Arlade gets here. And if shes busy, or she decides to wait until spring, or the ship with the letter goes down on the way to Makeeranwhy dont we leave another message for her here with our route on it? We can go ahead and set off toward the Archipelago together, and that way, even if everything else goes wrong, well be that much closer to our destination.

After hed said his piece, Kalen held his breath, waiting for her reply. It was a long time coming.

I think well stay here, she said. The trip I had planned was a hard one. And I am not as well as I hoped to be. And you might outrun Arlade wizarn, trying to take me off to the Archipelago on your own. How is she to get to her new apprentice if he is running here and there by the time she knows he is looking for her?

Kalen slouched in the chair.

Yarda, the person I sent the letter through He pictured Zevnies face in his mind. It was surprisingly clear considering how long it had been since hed seen her. Shes ambitious. Shes also proud and she promised, so I think shell pass the message to Arlade. But theres a chance she wont. I knew that when I sent it. It doesnt matter to me if we outrun Arlade. My apprenticeship can start whenever it starts. We can go to the Archipelago and I can train with some other teacher even, while the healers there help you.

Yardas lips quirked up. I think I will stay here, she said. And give Arlade wizarn her chance to come. Mayhap there is a healer to help me in this big city, in addition to the captains doctor.

Why are you smiling like that? Kalen asked, wondering if shed understood what he said. This is a very serious decision.

Before we left, Shelba said to me, Yarda, for all I know Kalen is not going off with plans to meet a master at all, but to buy up all the books on the continent and read them to himself.

Kalen made an affronted sound. I am trying to meet up with a master! Almost just like I told her!

Yarda lifted the cloth from her eyes to wink at him. But youll have no trouble from him, she told me. Everyone says Jorn and I have spoiled him, but I cant see it. He is always trying to be good in some way or another, even when he is carving up the walls or scaring people with his spells.

I only painted on the walls.

Yarda chuckled. Im glad were traveling together. And Im sorry to be more of a burden than I meant to. But I do think its better to rely on your ambitious friend and rest here for a while.

Youre not a burden, Kalen said quickly. And if you want to find a healer herea practitioner oneIll help you.

He was already planning a new way forward in his head. If they were staying here for sure, then

He stood up.

I think you can wait until tomorrow to go looking for a healer, said Yarda. Its late in the day for that.

Im going to a book shop.

A book shop?

If theres a place that sells books for practitioners, theyll know about any healers. And theyll have other things I need. Kalen felt a tightness in his gut that was half excitement, half nerves. If were not traveling for a while, I can practice magic. Not like on the ship. I can really do it.

In a city this big, there had to be a wind spell. On a scroll, in a book, tucked away in someones head. Even if it was just one, even if it was hard or old or it did something ridiculousKalen was going to find it.

And he was going to make it his.